Performing musical works together at the Consulate General of China

Over 100 students from Guangdong Experimental High School, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation gathered at the Consulate General of China in New York on the evening of October 8 to attend the “Youth, Dialogue, Future”—China-US Youth Choral Concert. The two bands performed several classic Chinese and American musical works together.

Consul General Chen Li, Francisco J. Núñez, founder and artistic director of the New York City Youth Choir, Quan Hanyan, principal of the Guangdong Experimental High School Education Group, and Mary Keating, young scholar program manager of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, delivered speeches during the event.

Chen Li stated that the connection between the two choirs dates back to 2005 and has lasted for over 20 years, during which time they have met many times in China and at various international events. “Musicians are often better at turning competition into friendship than politicians. The two choirs have gradually developed from initial professional exchanges into a partnership. In 2024, 40 singers from YPC traveled to Guangdong to rehearse with Chinese students and perform in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai. Now, students from Guangdong have come to New York. In many ways, this story is just a microcosm of the broader exchanges taking place between young people in China and the United States.”

“Two weeks ago, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, he announced an initiative to invite 100,000 American youths to China for exchange and study over the next five years. This enormous number reflects the growing curiosity and desire for mutual understanding among young people in both countries. We hope to create more opportunities for young people from both countries to see another country with their own eyes, make friends of similar age, and discover firsthand that the real world is often more colorful and fascinating than what we see on screen.” Chen Li added, “A concert lasts only one night, but a friendship can last much longer.”

Nunes, founder and artistic director of the New York City Youth Choir, then shared the story of the friendship and interaction between the two youth choirs. He mentioned that members of the choir had recently visited Princeton and Yale Universities, exchanging ideas with university and high school choirs there. Nunes even created a color map of the Chinese choir’s Manhattan itinerary as a souvenir. Nunes, a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, founded the New York City Youth Choir in 1988, attracting over 2,000 high school students from across New York City annually.

Quan Hanyan, the principal of the Guangdong Experimental High School Education Group, also delivered a speech, saying, “Songs know no borders, and art builds a golden bridge.” He hoped that students would make friends through songs, use music as a medium to increase communication, and break down barriers.

During the subsequent performance, the Guangdong Experimental High School Choir sang “Life Never Ends” from *The Lion King* and the Yi ethnic minority song “Spring is Coming”; the New York City Youth Choir performed “If I Were a Swan” and “The Golden Bridge Over the River of Sorrow.” Young pianists Ryan Lu and Yidi Ding from the Lang Lang International Music Foundation performed solos of *Etude No. 10 in F minor* and *Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix*, respectively. Finally, the two choirs performed together popular pieces such as “Give Us Hope,” “As You Wish,” and “Wishful Thinking on the Sea: The Call of Song.”

Both teachers and students were reluctant to part after the exchange, exchanging gifts on site. The choir also presented souvenirs to Consul General Chen Li and Cultural Counselor Shang Jiyuan, among other guests who had provided strong support for the event, and expressed their hope to hold more similar exchange and performance activities in the future.